Gear

Gear: Trans-Alaska III Pac Boot

August 15, 2014 by teamineka

I (Robert) have been using either Steger Mukluks or a combo-system with my Neos for years on the trails. My Neos have been worn for seven thousand miles over the last few winters and it is time for a change.

This year I plan on using the Trans-Alaska III Pac Boot.

Living in Willow, Alaska it can get pretty cold– usually we are in the mid-20s below zero in the middle of winter and out on the trails it will be much colder. I once measured -36 degrees on the Yentna River a couple years ago and I am sure I have been in much colder.

With these boots I plan to replace the liners with a beefier set that many mushers use. When I tried them on and walked around for a while yesterday they were light and comfortable. I typically wear a two sock set up–a moisture wicking material under a Smart-wool type. In my Neos my feet often got wet from sweat and made my feet very uncomfortable but the boot system was very light and I could get off the sled and run with no problems.

I will amend this review after I wear them for several runs.

From the Cabela’s website:

From the Iditarod trail to the treestand, these boots have proven they are true cold-weather performers. A 13mm Texel® removable liner reflects heat inward to minimize loss. Beneath that, the Moisture Trap footbed wicks away perspiration and condensation. A 1/2″ layer of EVA foam, coupled with the nylon-covered Phylon midsole, puts 3″ of cold-blocking material between your feet and the ground. The tough, flexible vamps are protected by a triple-layer, abrasion-resistant toe guard, and the rubber toe cap ensures longer wear. These boots have a reflective, lightweight waterproof shell with lightweight, reflective nylon shafts. Radiantex™ reflective coating. The 8″ liner allows for pants inside the boots, and the rip-stop nylon gaiter has a cord-locked drawcord to keep out snow. They’re easy to tighten, thanks to a one-pull ball bearing lacing system. Inside, a heat pack pocket allows you to insert toe warmer heat packs.
Height: 15″.
Average weight: 5.8 lbs./pair.
Men’s whole sizes: 7-13.
Color: Black/Tan.

Cost: $199.99 in-store or $219.00 on website

What types of boots do you wear on the trail?

Gear: Lupine Betty R14

March 30, 2014 by teamineka

One of the most important pieces of equipment in mushing is your headlamp. There are many on the market, ranging from inexpensive ones you pick up at the local hardware store to the best headlamp in the world.

For us at Team Ineka, the Lupine Betty R14 takes the crown by a devastating landslide. They not only spec’d a 4500 lumen light but they also backed it up. This light is almost scary in brightness level and one really has to look away from the light head or risk seeing ‘stars’ for a moment. Most ‘good’ headlamps will allow the musher to see about half his team from his position on the runners. With the Lupine Betty R14 you can see the lead dogs and much further down the trail.

The good news is the light levels are very configurable all the way to 40 Lumens without any flicker at all. This one system can serve many purposes from the longest marathon races, like the Iditarod to quick chores around the dog yard.

One of the coolest features is the remote. It is so tiny, so easy to activate and so fast. It has a long range and is dependable and lightning quick. This makes it actually useable and easy to change light levels as it will be right at your thumbs. We plan to mount the remote to our sled on the handlebar next fall.

We want to thank Dale at The Upholstery Gallery for making it possible to add this awesome piece of equipment.

Specifications (from the Lupine website)

Price: $1175
Claimed Lumens: 4500 Lumens
Measured Lumens: 4280 Lumens
Measured MTBR Lux: 440 Lux
Lumens per $: 3.66 Lumens
Lumens per gram: 7.70 Lumens
Time on High: 1:30 Hours
Charge Time: 2:00 Hours
Mounted Weight: 530 grams
Category: High End

Strengths

Excellent 26 degree, even beam pattern
It includes a remote that is very useable
Insane brightness at 4280 Lumens
7.5 hour run time at 900 Lumens or 1.5 hours at 4280
Excellent charger and smart battery with indicator
Lupine quality and reputation
Can be used with impressive array of Lupine batteries
Amazing temperature management that will step down and step up the light brightness based on the air movement and ventilation available

Weaknesses

It is $1175
Can get hot when stationary and will step down in brightness as the light head is small
At this brightness level, it should be wider than 26 degrees

Mounting

There is a wide array of mounting options. We purchased the headband for the Betty R from Grenta Bikes for $44.00.

We purchased this headlamp late in the season, we can’t wait for next fall to use this everyday on the sled dog trails.

Limited Edition Night Vision Poster

February 14, 2014 by teamineka

Night Vision Musher: Our limited edition, signed Night Vision Musher poster, designed by artist Cameo Anderson and taking inspiration from 1982’s The Thing a movie by John Carpenter, is available exclusively to our GoFundMe backers.

This poster (size 32×24) is signed by Robert, Michele and Nicole, and limited to just 100 prints. Once we get 100 pledges they will be gone!

Help us mush down a dream in the wilds of Alaska!

Click on the poster icon on this page to order yours today!http://www.gofundme.com/teamineka

A Musher’s Dream: Team Ineka

October 26, 2013 by teamineka

A Musher’s Dream: Team Ineka

Paperback

Robert Forto and Michele Forto (authors)

Barbara Slocum (illustrator)

Published by ArcticHouse Publishing (October 2013)

Price: $10.95 plus shipping

Our first Children’s book, A Musher’s Dream: Team Ineka, is now available. The book tells the story of Team Ineka and the journey north to Alaska to train a team of Huskies to one day run in the Iditarod. With wonderful illustrations this book will spark your child’s imagination and bring up conversations of American history.

The book will make a wonderful gift. If you would like to order a copy please click on the link below.

From: Sid Korpi

I had the privilege of reading a copy of “A Musher’s Dream,Team Ineka,” by Robert and Michele Forto and found it a delightful little book. The illustrations capture your heart and the story of how the spirit of Ineka, the much-beloved husky who passed on before the Fortos realized their Iditarod dream—but who nevertheless continues to inspire it and watch over the progress of the new dogs who joined their household and mushing team—is simply touching.

From April Cox

This wonderful book is geared towards children but I certainly enjoyed it!!! A story about Team Ineka and their dream to run the Iditarod… I do have a personal interest in it as it stars two dogs that came from my kennel… I believe in you Robert Forto and can’t wait for the ending to happen in real life!!!! Then the sequel – Coming into NOME!!!

From Leah Morse

I loved your book “A Musher’s Dream Team Ineka” The story is interesting and the illustrations are wonderful. I read to my grandson of 14months old and he engaged with the pictures (we did a shortened version due to his short baby attention span) He loved pointing at the husky pictures. I think this is a great book for a younger child as a pre- chapter book. Thank you for sharing your experience through the story. It engaged us from an illustrated point and from the story line. I recommend this to all my friends with dog loving kids. Take Care!

The Gear: Parka and Ruff

October 20, 2013 by teamineka

People have asked what gear we use when we are out on the trail with our teams. Here in Willow it can get very cold out on the trails and rivers where we run our teams in training. The coldest I have seen in my three seasons is a recorded minus 36 degrees (F). Over the coming days we will share what we have found that works best for us. Many people need more or less but as they say in Alaska there is no such thing as a bad day, just bad gear.

Parka

I, Robert, use a Wintergreen Northern Wear expedition shell anorak with a liner in size 2XL. I bought it a size bigger than I normally wear because I want to be able to layer.

This parka has been used by expeditions to the North and South Pole so it has to be good enough for mushing, right?

You bet.

When I purchased this parka online I didn’t know what to expect at first. It is very light compared to others from companies like Cabela’s and Canada Goose. It is down filled and lined with a heavy fleece liner inside that can be removed if you like.

Features/Specifications:

Outer shell constructed from treated 3-ply nylon with DWR (Durable Water Repellency), made to shield the body from the wind, also breathable.
Shakes off moisture easily and breathes better than Gore-tex under extreme cold conditions
Designed for polar expeditions or other extreme cold adventures
Ample design for layering to trap air and hold in body heat
Silky polyester shelter lining is suspended from the shoulders to prevent moisture traps
Adjustable draw-cord waist and hood and inside zip pockets
Zip-on Coyote Fur Ruff as an option (ruffs are obtained only from Inuit hunters who harvest them as a sustainable resource in the Canadian Arctic)
Two styles available- 1) Partial-Zip pullover style with a single front hand-warmer pocket 2) Full-Zip style with a two-way zipper and two front hand-warmer cargo pockets (The Full-Zip model is the one used in this review)
Machine Washable
Made in Ely, MN U.S.A

The Anorak features adjustable draw cords on the waist and hood, as well as an inside zip pocket. The inside of the jacket has a polyester shelter lining, which is suspended from the shoulders to prevent moisture traps. A really nice touch is the hand-warmer cargo pockets, which have a fleece lining on the front (shown in the top left photo below). I found these to be especially handy after working without gloves in frigid weather.

I would like to see another set of pockets on the inside. It does have two zippered ones where I often stow my iPod.

Ruff

You can order the parka from Wintergreen with a coyote ruff for about $150 dollars. I did so when I bought it and quickly found out it would not work in extreme conditions.

I found a ruff at a local furrier for $275 dollars. It is made of otter, wolverine and gray wolf. These three furs are supposed to be the best for extreme conditions and how they tackle the elements. You don’t want a ruff that freezes up or retains moisture. Be design the ruff’s job it to keep wind off your face and envelop your head and face in a mask of warmth. This one does this job exceptionally well.

It is about 10 inches wide and 28 inches long. I decided to keep it long so I could tuck it into the top of my parka for extra warmth.

I sewed a piece of velcro on the ruff and my hood and often remove it unless it is really cold.

What type of parka and ruff do you use?